LGBT people are making political history around the world and right here in our own backyard.

Voters in Zurich recently elected Corine Mauch as mayor. Mauch is the first openly lesbian mayor of a major European city as well as the first female mayor of the largest city in Switzerland. Interestingly, Mauch is also the first mayor to have played in two rock bands. In the 1990s, according to OpEdNews.com, she played with The Hoover and with Fallacy.

Here in the United States, President Obama has appointed a number of LGBT people to positions of authority. The April issue of the Advocate has an article about many of the appointees, including far more in depth information than I can include here.

While President Obamas hasnt been able to make every LGBT person happy with how quickly he has moved on several key LGBT issues, including Dont Ask Dont Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act, he is certainly demonstrating that he can bring a diverse group of people to the table. President Obama has included far more LGBT members in his staff than previous presidents. With direct representation at many levels, it is far more likely that LGBT concerns will be heard and addressed.

Be on the lookout in coming months for profiles of some of these appointees.